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Sail Training International

Research Fund

Sail Training International is pleased to be able to provide a range of funds that support the continued delivery and development of sail training around the world. As a part of this support, we are pleased to be able to provide the Sail Training International Research Fund 2027.

Research is vital to the ongoing development of sail training. It informs our practice, shows our strengths and weaknesses, provides empirical evidence of our outcomes, identifies new outcomes and shows where these outcomes can be strengthened and improved.

The Research Fund aims to support small research programmes that look at sail training, its associated programs and outcomes, wider maritime heritage, and/or education at sea. In total £10,000 has been set aside for projects that will be completed before October 2027.

Expression of Interest Forms & Full applications for the 2027 Sail Training International Research Fund are now being accepted.

Please note projects must be of a Sail Training nature and take place in 2027. Funding will start in December 2026.

Grant Timeline

Deadline for Expressions of Interest 31st July 2026
Expression of Interest assessment deadline 30th August 2026
Deadline for Applications 30th September 2026
Grant decisions announcedNovember 2026
End of project Research Paper submitted by 14th October 2027

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FORM

SUBMIT A FULL APPLICATION

 

Who Can Apply?

We welcome applications from non-profit research individuals or organisations around the world that are seeking to engage in sail training related research over the ensuing 12 months. Organisations can be individuals, sail training operators, schools, National Sail Training Organisations or land-based agencies/organisations. You can apply for funding to implement new projects or to continue research that is due to take place in 2026. Grants can be used to fund personnel, equipment, and other direct expenses essential to achieving the outcomes of the research, as well as staff or volunteer training essential to the research project.
Funds will be allocated to research projects according to merit and their capacity to assist the sail training community in their life changing activities.

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DEMONSTRATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A SAIL TRAINING PROGRAMME

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IDENTIFIES NEW AND INNOVATIVE OUTCOMES OF SAIL TRAINING PROGRAMMES

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ENHANCES THE DEVELOPMENT AND UNDERSTANDING OF MARITIME HERITAGE

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OFFERS GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPACT OF SAIL TRAINING ACTIVITIES ON THE ENVIRONMENT

LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION?

There is a body of independent academic research validating the power and value of sail training in the personal development of young people.

 

A selection of these studies can be downloaded here via our Hosted Research page, and you can access a directory of academic studies and articles hosted by different institutions and publications via our Research Directory.

Hosted Research

Access sail training research papers hosted by Sail Training International.

Research Directory

Find academic research articles focusing on sail training from academic institutions and publications.

EOI’s for the 2027 Sail Training International Research Fund are now being accepted. Please note projects must be of a Sail Training nature and take place in 2027. Funding will start in December 2026.

For help completing this form we advise you to read the guidance notes available.

Guidance Notes

If you are interested in applying, but are unsure if your project meets the funding criteria, you can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the Youth Development Fund. To submit an EOI, all you need to do is complete the form below providing a summary of your proposed project, which will then be reviewed by the funding committee.

Once you submit an EOI, the Funding Committee will advise if the proposed project meets the funding criteria and provide support feedback where needed when completing your full application.

Expression of Interest Form

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
IS YOUR PROJECT SAIL TRAINING RELATED?
IS THIS A NEW OR EXISTING PROJECT?
Confirm

Application’s for the 2027 Sail Training International Research Fund are now being accepted. Please note projects must be of a Sail Training nature and take place in 2027. Funding will start in December 2026.

For help completing this form we advise you to read the guidance notes available.

Guidance Notes

To save this form and complete later, please use the ‘Save & Resume’ link at the bottom of the page.

Application deadline: 30th September 2026

Research Fund: Full Application Form

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CONTACT PERSON INFORMATION

Please provide the details for the person who will be leading your project and will be the main point of contact for Sail Training International.
Please provide the details for the person who will be leading your project and will be the main point of contact for Sail Training International.
Name

ABOUT YOUR ORGANISATION

Please provide details about your organisation.
(Charity, Registered, Unregistered Company?)
(If applicable)
Address

ABOUT YOUR PROJECT

Please provide details about your Project.
Is this a new or existing project?
(MM/YY)
Include details regarding the proposed hypothesis, aim, data collection method and research methodology. Include a brief background why you are seeking to research this area and the demographic details of the proposed study subjects. (Max 300 Words)
Please include details regarding the implementation Timeline of your research project including when you’ll be conducting the different phases of your research and approximately when you’ll be allocating the grant funds. Please also include a timeline of project deliverables including preliminary reports, progress reports and final reports. NOTE funding will be paid as per milestones and deliverables. (Max 300 Words)
Sail Training encourages both new and experienced researchers to apply for the grant. (Max 200 Words)

PROJECT OUTCOMES

List the objective(s) of the project, the action that will be taken to reach this objective, and how this action will be evaluated and assessed. Please be specific – The objective(s) need to be measurable: describe the “who” and “how” and be time bound. A minimum of one objective is required.

Objective 1

Objective 2

Objective 3

Objective 4

Please note: Collaboration includes any input from other parties in the programme, including but not limited to; financial contributions, benefit in kind sponsorship, any input from political or religious organisations.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Please provide the following financial information for the project. If you do not have funding for any of the areas please enter 0.
(STI + OTHER TOTAL)
Please list all sources of programme revenue secured or proposed. Be specific, for example, if total foundation support is from several foundations, please list the names of each foundation.
Is the funding amount requested from Sail Training International less than 50% of overall project funding? Please outline how the proposed funds will be used.

DECLARATION

  • I UNDERSTAND THE GRANT WILL BE PAID IN 3 STAGES AND MY PROPOSED PROJECT IS VIABLE UNDER THIS ARRANGEMENT.
  • I AGREE TO COMPLETE AND DELIVER THE FINAL RESEARCH PAPER WITHIN 6 WEEKS OF THE PROJECT COMPLETION.
  • I AGREE TO DELIVER AT LEAST FIVE HIGH-RES IMAGES AND/OR VIDEOS AND OTHER MATERIAL FOR PROMOTIONAL PURPOSES WITHIN 6 WEEKS OF THE PROJECT COMPLETION - Please send these separately.
  • I AGREE THAT SAIL TRAINING INTERNATIONAL HAS MY ORGANISATIONS PERMISSION TO USE THE MATERIAL IN THIS FORM, AND OTHER REPORTS SUBMITTED ON THE PROJECT, FOR ITS OWN PROMOTION, PUBLICATION AND DISSEMINATION OF GOOD PRACTICE TO OTHER SAIL TRAINING OPERATORS.
  • I AGREE ALL MATERIALS AND FINDINGS WILL BE SUBMITED TO SAIL TRAINING INTERNATIONAL FREE OF CHARGE AND THAT ALL MATERIALS WILL BE PROVIDED ACCORDING TO DATA PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS AND COPIES OF SIGNED DISCLAIMERS AND PERSMISSIONS FOR ANYONE CAPTURED IN A PHOTO OR VIDEO WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE.
  • I AGREE TO ACKNOWLEDGE SAIL TRAINING INTERNATIONAL IN ANY OTHER PUBLICATIONS PERTAINING TO THIS PROJECT.
  • I HAVE DECLARED ALL PROJECT COLLABORATORS AS SET OUT IN THIS FORM.
  • I CONFIRM, I AM AUTHORISED ON BEHALF OF THE ORGANISATION TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL TO STI, MY COMPANY MEETS ALL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND ALL INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS PROPOSAL IS TRUE AND ACCURATE.
  • I HAVE READ AND AGREE TO SAIL TRAINING INTERNATIONAL’S PRIVACY POLICY. www.sailtraininginternational.org/privacy-policy/
  • I AGREE TO FORWARD EVIDENCE OF MY ORGANISATIONS NOT FOR PROFIT STATUS. – If Requested
  • I AGREE TO FORWARD A COPY OF THE PROPOSED RESEARCH BUDGET HIGHLIGHTING WHERE THE FUNDS WILL BE USED.
By ticking the box below, you are agreeing to each of the above declarations:
PLEASE TICK HERE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE INCLUDED IN OUR MAILING LIST, THIS WILL INCLUDE RECEIVING FUNDING NEWS.
Name
Save and Resume Later

*Please copy and save the link reference, STI will not have a record of the reference and it will NOT be emailed to you.

Expression of Interest Forms & Full applications for the 2027 Sail Training International Research Fund are now being accepted.

Please note projects must be of a Sail Training nature and take place in 2027. Funding will start in December 2026.
For help completing this form we advise you to read the guidance notes available below.

Guidance Notes

Get in Touch

For further assistance completing your EOI, or if you have any other questions about the funds, please direct enquiries to the following members of the funding team:

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